U.S. patent application number 14/172508 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-14 for flexible portable terminal.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Junghyun KIM, Sunyoung KIM, Jaehun KO, Nakyung LEE.
Application Number | 20140226275 14/172508 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50097571 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140226275 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KO; Jaehun ; et al. |
August 14, 2014 |
FLEXIBLE PORTABLE TERMINAL
Abstract
A flexible portable terminal is provided. The flexible portable
terminal includes a folding portion configured to bend at one end
of a body of the flexible portable terminal in a direction to a
front surface or a rear surface of the flexible portable terminal,
a flexible display unit configured to be mounted on the body of the
flexible portable terminal, and to bend in the front surface or the
rear surface of the flexible portable terminal according to a
bending direction of the folding portion, and a sliding portion
configured to enable one end of the flexible display unit to slide
according to a difference of a compression/tension caused by a
difference of an elongation between the folding portion and the
flexible display unit when the folding portion is bent.
Inventors: |
KO; Jaehun; (Seoul, KR)
; KIM; Sunyoung; (Seoul, KR) ; KIM; Junghyun;
(Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Nakyung; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
50097571 |
Appl. No.: |
14/172508 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1681 20130101;
G06F 1/1652 20130101; G06F 1/1626 20130101; G06F 1/1601
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/679.27 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 8, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0014314 |
Feb 3, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0012112 |
Claims
1. A flexible portable apparatus comprising: a folding portion
configured to bend at one end of a body of a flexible portable
terminal in a direction to a front surface or a rear surface of the
flexible portable terminal; a flexible display unit configured to
be mounted on the body of the flexible portable terminal, and to
bend in the front surface or the rear surface of the flexible
portable terminal according to a bending direction of the folding
portion; and a sliding portion configured to enable one end of the
flexible display unit to slide according to a difference of a
compression or tension caused by a difference of an elongation
between the folding portion and the flexible display unit when the
folding portion is bent.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the folding portion comprises
a free stop hinge unit configured to maintain a bending state of
the folding portion.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the folding portion has uneven
structures formed on the front surface and the rear surface of the
body of the flexible portable terminal.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the free stop hinge unit is
disposed across at least one uneven structure formed on the body of
the flexible portable terminal.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sliding portion is further
configured to enable the one end of the flexible display unit to
slide in a direction to a side of the flexible portable terminal
according to the difference of the elongation between the folding
portion and the flexible display unit when the folding portion is
bent in a direction to the front surface of the flexible portable
terminal.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sliding portion is further
configured to enable the one end of the flexible display unit to
slide in a direction to an inside of the flexible portable terminal
according to the difference of the elongation between the folding
portion and the flexible display unit and a thickness of the body
of the flexible portable terminal when the folding portion is bent
in a direction to the rear surface of the flexible portable
terminal.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sliding portions are
disposed at an upper portion and a lower portion of the body of the
flexible portable terminal respectively.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sliding portions comprise:
a slider; a slot configured to define a sliding range of the
slider, and is formed by etching a part of the surface of the body
of the flexible portable terminal; and guide portions configured to
guide a sliding of the slider at both ends of the slot.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the flexible display unit is
configured to be adhered to at least one convex surface in a
central region among multiple uneven structures of the folding
portion, and to be adhered to the sliding surfaces of the upper
portion and the lower portion of the body.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a notch, which is
formed on the body of the flexible portable terminal so as to be
opposite to an edge of the flexible display unit, configured to
cover a part of the edge of the flexible display unit even when the
flexible display unit slides.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the notch is further
configured to cover the body of the flexible portable terminal
which is exposed by a sliding movement of the flexible display
unit.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hook provided to
one end of the flexible portable terminal, and a hook groove which
is formed at the other end opposite to the one end of the flexible
portable terminal and coupled with the hook when the flexible
portable terminal is folded.
13. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a cover of the
flexible portable terminal is configured to surround side surface
and the rear surface of the flexible portable terminal except for
the flexible display unit.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a minimum value which the
flexible display unit maintains is determined based on at least one
of a length of a topside of the folding portion, a thickness of the
folding portion, numbers of the folding portion, a length of a
saw-tooth and an angel between adjacent uneven structures.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein an edge of the cover of the
flexible portable terminal comprises a cut-off portion which is
obliquely cut from an end of the edge contacting the flexible
display unit.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cut-off portion is
formed from an end of the cover of the flexible portable terminal
contacting the flexible display unit to a line corresponding to a
height of the folding portion.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible display unit
comprises at least one of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) unit, an
Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display unit, and an
Electrophoretic Display (EPD) unit.
18. A flexible portable apparatus comprising: a flexible display
unit configured to output a display screen by a flexible portable
terminal; and a body of the flexible portable terminal which has
one surface on which a folding structure is formed configured to
bend upper and lower portions of the flexible portable terminal at
a desired angle in a direction to a front surface or a rear surface
of the flexible portable terminal, and the other surface on which a
sliding structure is disposed to make one end of the flexible
display unit slide according to the bending of the flexible
portable terminal.
19. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: wherein the
length of a saw-tooth is determined based on an Equation,
Z=2.times.(x/2.times.Cos
.theta.+t).times.(.theta./360.degree.).times..pi.=(.theta./180.degree.).t-
imes.(x/2.times.Cos .theta.+t).times..pi. in which x is the minimum
value, y is a length of a topside of the folding portion, t is a
thickness of the folding portion, n is numbers of the folding
portions, Z is the length of a saw-tooth, Z' is a length of a
curved surface, and 2.theta. is an angle between adjacent uneven
portions, when the length of a saw-tooth is identical to the length
of a curved surface.
20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the flexible display unit
comprises at least one of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) unit, an
Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display unit, and an
Electrophoretic Display (EPD) unit.
Description
CROSS-REFFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Feb. 8, 2013
in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial
number 10-2013-0014314, and of a Korean patent application filed on
Feb. 3, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and
assigned Serial number 10-2014-0012112, the entire disclosure of
each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a flexible portable
terminal. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a
flexible portable terminal capable of bending or folding in a
direction to a front surface or a rear surface thereof without a
flexible display unit being separated from the flexible portable
terminal or being damaged.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Development of a display field of various types of portable
terminals has been advancing as the use of the portable terminals
to access information increases. Accordingly, various display
devices have been developed and introduced to meet the development
of the display field.
[0004] A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device, a Plasma Display
Panel (PDP) device, a Field Emission Display (FED) device, an
Electro Luminescence Display (ELD) device, and the like, have been
evolving into thin, light, and low electricity consuming
devices.
[0005] Their common feature is that they are implemented in a flat
shape by using a rigid substrate, such as a glass plate, and the
like. Accordingly, in a current technical level, if some core
technologies are developed to be adapted to a flexible display
device (e.g., substituting a flexible and transparent substrate for
the glass substrate), the flexible display device can be
manufactured immediately.
[0006] Similarly, when such a flexible display device is applied to
electronic devices, flexible electronic devices can be quickly
developed.
[0007] Therefore, as the flexible display device has been
developed, the development of a portable terminal, a monitor, a
Television receiver (TV), and the like, to which the flexible
display can be applied, is also needed.
[0008] For example, with a structure of an electronic device
employing the flexible display device, a development of a structure
which could complement the electronic device and the flexible
display device is needed so that the electronic device can be
prevented from being separated or damaged due to a difference of an
elongation between the electronic device and the flexible display
device when the electronic device is bent and folded.
[0009] Therefore, a need exists for a flexible portable terminal
capable of bending or folding in a direction to a front surface or
a rear surface thereof without a flexible display unit being
separated from the flexible portable terminal or being damaged.
[0010] The above information is presented as background information
only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No
determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to
whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with
regard to the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
[0011] Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least
the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at
least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the
present disclosure is to provide a flexible terminal capable of
bending or folding in a direction to a front surface or a rear
surface thereof without a flexible display unit being separated
from a flexible portable terminal or being damaged.
[0012] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a
flexible portable terminal in which a folding structure is
implemented by forming an uneven structure on the portable
terminal, thereby preventing an increase of an overall thickness of
the flexible portable terminal without a part for bending the
portable terminal separately added. Further, still another aspect
of the present disclosure is to provide a flexible portable
terminal that can be easily manufactured and that a user can
conveniently carry and use.
[0013] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a
flexible portable apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a
folding portion configured to bend at one end of a body of a
flexible portable terminal in a direction to a front or a rear
surface of the flexible portable terminal, a flexible display unit
configured to be mounted on the body of the flexible portable
terminal, and to bend in the front or the rear surface of the
flexible portable terminal according to a bending direction of the
folding portion, and a sliding portion configured to enable one end
of the flexible display unit to slide according to a difference of
a compression/tension caused by a difference of an elongation
between the folding portion and the flexible display unit when the
folding portion is bent.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
a flexible portable apparatus is provided. The flexible portable
apparatus includes a flexible display unit configured to output a
display screen by a flexible portable terminal, and a body having
one surface on which a folding structure is formed to bend upper
and lower portions of the flexible portable terminal at a desired
angle in a direction to a front surface or a rear surface of the
flexible portable terminal, wherein a sliding structure is disposed
on the other surface to make one end of the flexible display unit
slide according to the bending of the flexible portable
terminal.
[0015] The features and technical merits are widely summarized so
that the above-mentioned contents are better understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art from the detailed description of the
present disclosure described below.
[0016] The flexible portable terminal of the present disclosure can
be bent at different angles in a front direction or a rear
direction but is not limited thereto.
[0017] More particularly, when the flexible portable terminal is
bent, an end of the flexible display device is enabled to slide
according to a compression and an extension of the flexible display
device caused by a difference of elongation between a bending
portion of a body of the portable terminal and the flexible display
device, thereby preventing the flexible display device from being
separated from the body of the portable terminal or being
damaged.
[0018] Further, the present disclosure maintains a bending state by
variously adjusting a ratio of an upper portion to a lower portion
of the flexible portable terminal, thereby allowing the manufacture
of various flexible portable terminals with various ratios, and
facilitating the operation and convenience of carrying the flexible
portable terminal.
[0019] In addition, in the structure of maintaining the folding
state of the flexible portable terminal according to the present
disclosure, magnetism is removed from the flexible portable
terminal, thereby having no electric and physical effects on
functions and operation of the portable terminal, and improving
reliability of the flexible portable terminal.
[0020] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the
disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction
with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the
present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of
certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent
from the following description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0022] FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate a front surface and a rear
surface of a flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a flexible portable terminal, in which
the flexible portable terminal is folded according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0024] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a flexible portable terminal bent
in a front direction according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 5 illustrate a flexible portable terminal bent in a
rear direction according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 6A illustrates a structure of a front surface of a
flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 6B illustrates a part of an edge of a flexible portable
terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a
flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 8 illustrates a flexible display device mounted on a
general portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 9 illustrates a bending portion of a flexible portable
terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C illustrate a bending structure
formed as a folding portion on a front surface and a rear surface
of a flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0032] FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D illustrate a bending state of a
flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0033] FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C illustrate an expanded state of a
flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0034] FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C illustrate a flexible portable
terminal bent in a front direction according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[0035] FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C illustrate a flexible portable
terminal bent in a rear direction according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 15 illustrates a structure of a cover of a general
portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0037] FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a structure of a cover of a
flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure; and
[0038] FIG. 18 is a sectional view illustrating a process of
manufacturing a flexible portable terminal according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0039] The same reference numerals are used to represent the same
elements throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] The following description with reference to the accompanying
drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of
various embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the
claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details
to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as
merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize that various changes and modifications of the
various embodiments described herein can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition,
descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be
omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0041] The terms and words used in the following description and
claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are
merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent
understanding of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be
apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description
of various embodiments of the present disclosure is provided for
illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the
present disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
[0042] It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an,"
and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a component
surface" includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.
[0043] By the term "substantially" it is meant that the recited
characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly,
but that deviations or variations, including for example,
tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and
other factors known to skill in the art, may occur in amounts that
do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to
provide.
[0044] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the portable
terminal may be applied to all information and communication
devices, multimedia devices and applications thereof, such as a
tablet Personal Computer (PC), a mobile communication terminal, a
mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a smart phone, an
International Mobile Telecommunication 2000 (IMT-2000) terminal, a
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) terminal, a Wideband Code
Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) terminal, a Global System for
Mobile communication (GSM) terminal, a General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS) terminal, an Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
terminal, an Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS)
terminal, a digital broadcasting terminal, an Automated Teller
Machine (ATM), and the like.
[0045] FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate a front surface and a rear
surface of a flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a flexible portable
terminal, wherein the flexible portable terminal is bent according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 3 and 4
illustrate a flexible portable terminal bent in a front direction
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5
illustrate a flexible portable terminal bent in a rear direction
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0046] Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, a flexible portable
terminal 100 may include a body 110 thereof, and a flexible display
unit 300 mounted on a front surface of the body 110 thereof.
[0047] The body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 may
include a plurality of electronic parts constituting the flexible
portable terminal 100 on the inside and the outside thereof For
example, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) or a flexible substrate
which is a thin plate and on which the electronic parts, such as an
Integrated Circuit (IC), a camera, a Secure Digital (SD) card, a
Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, antennas, and the
like, are mounted may be disposed on the inside and the outside of
the body 110.
[0048] The body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 may be
made of a hard non-metal material, such as
Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene resin, Polycarbonate (PC) resin,
Polyoxymethylene (POM) acetal resin, and the like, which are
plastic resin compositions, but the material of the body 110 of the
flexible portable terminal 100 is not limited thereto. The flexible
display unit 300 may be attached, mounted, adhered on a front
surface of the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal. For
example, the flexible display unit 300 may be partially adhered to
a part of the front surface of the body 110 using a double sided
tape, an adhesive agent, and the like.
[0049] An edge of the flexible display unit 300 may be covered with
a notch 222 (see FIG. 6B) formed on the body 110 of the flexible
portable terminal 100 in order to prevent any separation,
deformation, damage, and the like, of the flexible display unit
300. The flexible display unit 300 may be composed of a display
device formed on the thin flexible substrate instead of an existing
glass substrate.
[0050] For example, the flexible display unit 300 may include at
least one of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) unit, an Organic Light
Emitting Diode (OLED) display unit, an Electrophoretic Display
(EPD) unit, and the like.
[0051] A cover 200 of the flexible portable terminal 100 may be
adhered to the rear surface of the body 110 of the flexible
portable terminal 100, and may be made of a soft material including
at least one of rubber, urethane, silicon, leather, Thermoplastic
Elastomer (TPE), Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and the like, or
at least one combination thereof.
[0052] The flexible portable terminal 100 is bent in a direction of
the front surface thereof as shown in FIG. 2, is maintained in a
bent state and is positioned like a laptop computer in the bent
state as shown in FIG. 3, is positioned like a book in the bent
state as shown in FIG. 4, and is maintained in a bent state in a
direction to the rear surface thereof as shown FIG. 5.
[0053] The structure of the flexible portable terminal 100 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7.
[0054] FIG. 6A illustrates a structure of a front surface of a
flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure, FIG. 6B illustrates a part of an edge of a
flexible portable terminal of the present disclosure, and FIG. 7
illustrates an exploded perspective view of a flexible portable
terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 7, the flexible portable terminal
100 includes a body 110 thereof, and the flexible display unit 300
mounted on the front surface of the body 110.
[0056] The body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 includes
folding portions 150 and 160 which are disposed at an intermediate
portion and allow the flexible portable terminal 100 to be bent or
folded in a direction to the front surface or the rear surface of
the flexible portable terminal 100. The folding portions 150 and
160 are formed at the intermediate portion of the body 110 of the
flexible portable terminal 100 and have flexibility, which are bent
within an angle of 360 degrees so as to function as a hinge around
which the flexible portable terminal 100 can be folded and
expanded.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 6A, the folding portions 150 and 160 may be
formed in a center region of the body 110 of the flexible portable
terminal 100, and may be formed to extend in directions to an upper
portion and a lower portion of the body 110 of the flexible
portable terminal 100 in the same proportion or a different
proportion. However, an arrangement region of the folding portions
150 and 160 may be limited thereto.
[0058] The folding portions 150 and 160 may be separately formed by
dividing them into the folding portion 150 formed inside the body
110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 and the folding portion
160 formed outside the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal
100, or may be integrally formed. In an embodiment of the present
disclosure, the integrated folding portion will be described for
convenience in the description, but as shown in FIG. 7, it is noted
that the separated folding portions 150 and 160 may be
implemented.
[0059] The body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 further
includes a hook 112 disposed at one end of the edge, and a hook
groove 114 formed at the other end which is opposite to and is
coupled with the one end when the flexible portable terminal 100 is
folded. The flexible portable terminal 100 may be maintained in the
folded state by the coupling of the hook 112 with the hook groove
114 as described above.
[0060] The upper sliding portion may include an upper slider 170,
an upper slot 120 for defining a sliding range of the upper slider
170, and guide portions 131 and 132 for preventing the upper slider
170 from being separated. The lower sliding portion also includes a
lower slider 172, a lower slot 122, and guide portions 141 and
142.
[0061] Hereinafter, the structure of the folding portion 160 will
be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10A, 10B, 10C, 11A, 11B,
11C, and 11D.
[0062] FIG. 9 illustrates a bending portion of a flexible portable
terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 9, the folding portion 160 may be formed
on the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100, or may be
formed to be separated from the body 110 of the flexible portable
terminal 100 and coupled with the body 110.
[0064] The folding portion 160 may have a section on the front and
rear surfaces with an uneven structure. The folding portion 160
according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has an uneven
structure of a saw-tooth at a bent portion thereof, thereby
improving an elongation, which is a proportion in which a material
is elongated when the material is bent, and flexibility.
[0065] Further, the folding portion 160 allows the flexible
portable terminal 100 to be folded or bent in the direction to the
front surface or the rear surface by the uneven front and rear
surfaces, i.e., both surfaces.
[0066] FIG. 8 illustrates a flexible display device mounted on a
general portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 8, in comparison with a hard material 20
having a section without the uneven structure shown in FIG. 8, it
is understood that the folding portion 160 having a saw-tooth
structure can be extended more easily at a bending portion when
bent. Moreover, the hard material 20 may attach a soft material
10.
[0068] Further, since such a folding portion 160 is implemented in
the flexible portable terminal 100 by forming the uneven structure
on the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100, the flexible
portable terminal 100 need not have more units, such as a hinge,
and has no electromagnetic effect on the parts thereof although an
overall thickness of the flexible portable terminal is not
increased.
[0069] FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C illustrate a bending structure
formed as a folding portion on a front surface and a rear surface
of a flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0070] Referring to FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C, sectional views of the
flexible portable terminal 100 illustrating a minimum condition
establishing the structure in order to prevent any damage of the
flexible display unit 300 when the flexible portable terminal 100
is bent and folded are provided.
[0071] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, when
the flexible portable terminal 100 is bent or folded, a minimum
value which the flexible display unit 300 needs to maintain may be
determined based on at least one of a length of a topside of the
folding portion 160, a thickness of the folding portion 160, a
number of the folding portion 160, a length of a saw-tooth and an
angle between adjacent prominences.
[0072] Further, according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure, referring to FIG. 10A, a minimum radius value x may be
maintained in order to prevent the bending portion of the flexible
display unit 300 from being damaged when the flexible portable
terminal 100 is bent or folded. Further, a below description may be
Equations to maintain a limit bending of the flexible display unit
300. Here, it is assumed that the folding portion 160 is relatively
made of a hard material 20, and the cover 200 of the flexible
portable terminal 100 is made of a soft material.
[0073] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, if a
radius to maintain a value of the limit bending of the flexible
display unit 300 is defined by x when the flexible portable
terminal 100 is folded, a length of a topside of a saw-tooth
structure is y, the thickness of the hard material 20 is t, the
length of a saw-tooth is Z, the length of a curved surface is Z'
and the number of the saw-tooth structure is n. If an angle between
the saw teeth (arc) is 2.theta., a value of x may be calculated
using Equations below.
[0074] For example, the length of a topside of a saw-tooth
structure may be determined based on Equation (1) below, by
calculating the value of x and a sin .theta..
y=x.times.Sin .theta. Equation (1)
[0075] Additionally, for example, if the number of the saw-tooth
structure is one, the angle between the saw teeth (arc) is
2.theta.. Accordingly, if the flexible portable terminal 100 is
totally bent and folded and the angle is 180.degree., the number of
the saw-tooth may be determined based on Equation (2) below.
n=90.degree./.theta. Equation (2)
[0076] Additionally, for example, if the flexible portable terminal
100 is totally bent and folded and the length of a saw-tooth is
identical to the length of a curved surface, the length of a
saw-tooth is determined based on Equation (3) below.
Z=2.times.(x/2.times.Cos
.theta.+t).times.(.theta./360.degree.).times..pi.=(.theta./180.degree.).t-
imes.(x/2.times.Cos .theta.+t).times..pi. Equation (3)
[0077] A designer can adjust the number of the saw-tooth structures
of the folding portion 160 or the thickness of the hard material 20
in order to prevent any damage of the flexible display unit 300
when the flexible portable unit is folded.
[0078] On the other hand, the uneven structure of the folding
portion 160 is formed such that etched portions on the front and
rear surfaces are opposite to each other as shown in FIG. 10A, or
such that etched portions 165 and 166 on the front and rear
surfaces alternate with each other as shown in FIG. 10B. Further,
the uneven structure may be formed in such a manner that the body
110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 is partially divided into
the front surface and the rear surface and then edges of the
divided front and rear surfaces are coupled with each other (167
and 168). However, as shown in FIG. 10C, the uneven structure may
be partially formed on the front and rear surfaces of the body 110
of the integral and flexible portable terminal.
[0079] Referring back to FIG. 9, the folding portion 160 may be
further provided with at least one free stop hinge unit 164 to
maintain the bent or folded state of the flexible portable terminal
100.
[0080] The free stop hinge units 164 are disposed to cross the
uneven structure on the front surface of the folding portion 160,
and formed to have a thickness identical to the highest height of
the uneven structure, thereby preventing an increasing of an
overall thickness of the flexible portable terminal.
[0081] Although an arrangement in which the free stop hinge units
164 extend across the uneven structure on the front surface is
shown in the drawings of the present disclosure, the arrangement is
not limited thereto and the free stop hinge units 164 may be
arranged across the uneven structure on the rear surface.
Furthermore, the free stop hinge units 164 may be mounted on both
edges in a region in which the flexible portable terminal 100 is
bent.
[0082] The free stop hinge units 164 may be made of, for example, a
shape memory alloy, a spring, a hinge structure, and the like, and
are not limited thereto. Any element which can maintain the bent
state of the folding portion 160 may be employed as the free stop
hinge units 164.
[0083] FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, and 11D illustrate a bending state of a
flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0084] Referring to FIG. 11A, for example, it may be assumed that
the folding portion 160 is disposed at a central region of the body
110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 and a plurality of uneven
structures are included in the front and rear surfaces of the body
110 of the flexible portable terminal 100.
[0085] Referring to FIG. 11B, when the flexible portable terminal
100 is bent along a line A-A' which divides the folding portion 160
into an upper portion and a lower portion at a ratio of 5:5, the
flexible portable terminal 100 is bent in which the upper and lower
portions are divided at the ration of 5:5.
[0086] Referring to FIG. 11C, on the other hand, when the flexible
portable terminal 100 is bent along a line B-B' which divides the
folding portion 160 into the upper portion and the lower portion at
a ratio of 3:7, the flexible portable terminal 100 is bent in which
the upper and lower portions are divided at the ration of 3:7.
[0087] For example, in the state that the lower portion of the bent
flexible portable terminal 100 is supported on the ground, and the
upper portion is upright, the display unit at the lower portion may
display a keyboard in the form of soft keys and the display unit at
the upper portion may display an execution screen as an output of a
signal input by the keyboard.
[0088] Referring to FIG. 11D, alternatively, when a user pushes
back the upper portion of the flexible portable terminal 100 in
which the flexible display unit 300 is folded in half in a
direction to the front surface of the flexible portable terminal
100, by using his/her finger, an end of the flexible display unit
300 adhered to the lower portion of the flexible portable terminal
100 opposite to the upper portion is exposed.
[0089] As described above, an information window displayed on the
exposed end of the flexible display unit 300 may be exposed. The
exposed information window may display at least one of information
on a battery state, information on a communication state,
information on a message receiving state, information on a state of
a certain executed application, and the like.
[0090] For example, in the state that the flexible portable
terminal 100 is folded, when the upper portion or the lower portion
of the flexible portable terminal 100 is pushed or drawn back by a
force, the flexible portable terminal 100 may partially slide by
the bending of the folding portion 160. Further, although the
flexible portable terminal 100 is not completely opened by sliding,
the user can identify minimum information on the flexible portable
terminal 100 through a simple sliding operation.
[0091] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 5, since the
folding portion 160 has the front and rear surfaces on which the
uneven structures are formed as described above, the elongation of
the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 increases even
though the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 is thick,
while the flexible display unit 300 may be bent or folded because
it is remarkably thin although it hardly has an elongation.
[0092] Due to the elongation, as the outside of the folding portion
160 which is opposite to the bending direction thereof is
tensioned, and the inside of the folding portion 160 configured to
bend is compressed when the flexible portable terminal 100 is bent
or folded, the flexible display unit 300 is pushed in a direction
to the outside of the flexible portable terminal 100, or is pulled
in a direction to the inside of the flexible portable terminal
100.
[0093] More particularly, when the flexible portable terminal 100
is folded in a direction to the front surface thereof, the flexible
display unit 300 is not compressed at a portion opposite to the
folding portion 160, and an edge of the flexible display unit 300
may be pushed outwardly in proportion to the compression of the
folding portion 160.
[0094] To the contrary, when the flexible portable terminal 100 is
folded in a direction to the rear surface thereof, the flexible
display unit 300 is not extended at the portion opposite to the
folding portion 160, and the edge of the flexible display unit 300
may be pulled inwardly in proportion to the extension of the
folding portion 160.
[0095] Therefore, when the flexible portable terminal 100 as
described above is bent or folded, the flexible display unit 300
adhered to the body of the flexible portable terminal 100 may have
problems in that it is separated from the body 110 of the flexible
portable terminal 100, or the surface thereof is crushed or damaged
because of a difference of the elongation of the folding portion
160 and the flexible display unit 300.
[0096] Accordingly, the embodiment of the present disclosure
discloses a sliding portion which has a structure to address the
above-mentioned problem and makes the flexible display unit 300
slide when the flexible portable terminal 100 is bent or folded, as
shown in FIG. 6A.
[0097] Referring back to FIG. 6A, the sliding portions of the
present disclosure may be provided to the upper and lower portions
of the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 around the
folding portion 160, respectively. The upper sliding portion may
include an upper slider 170, an upper slot 120 for defining a
sliding range of the upper slider 170, and guide portions 131 and
132 for preventing the upper slider 170 from being separated. The
lower sliding portion also includes a lower slider 172, a lower
slot 122 and guide portions 141 and 142.
[0098] The flexible display unit 300 may be adhered to a convex
surface 180 on at least one of multiple uneven structures of the
folding portion 160, and to the surfaces of the upper and lower
sliders 170 and 172. However, a portion at which the flexible
display unit 300 is adhered to the body 110 of the flexible
portable terminal 100 is not limited thereto.
[0099] The flexible display unit 300 for the flexible portable
terminal 100 of the present disclosure may not be adhered to a
whole surface 190 of the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal
100 but a part of the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal
100 in order to prevent any damage and separation of the flexible
display unit 300 by the pushing or pulling of the flexible display
unit 300 caused due to the elongation different from the folding
portion 160 when the flexible portable terminal 100 is bent or
folded.
[0100] Referring to FIG. 6B, in addition, the notch 222, which
prevents the separation of the flexible display unit 300 and covers
a gap between the flexible display unit 300 and the body 110 of the
flexible portable terminal 100 in order not to expose the gap, may
be formed over an edge of the body 110 of the flexible portable
terminal 100 which is opposite to an edge of the flexible display
unit 300.
[0101] Hereinafter, the sliding portion will be described with
reference to FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, 13A, 13B, 13C, 14A, 14B, and 14C.
FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C illustrate an expanded state of a flexible
portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C illustrate a flexible portable
terminal bent in a front direction according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure. FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C illustrate a
flexible portable terminal bent in a rear direction according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0102] Referring to FIGS. 12A, 12B, and 12C, it may be assumed that
the sliders 130 and 140 slide to an intermediate portion of the
slots 120 and 122 in the state that a designer expands the folding
portion 160.
[0103] The upper sliding portion may include an upper slider 170,
an upper slot 120 for defining a sliding range of the upper slider
170, and guide portions 131 and 132 for preventing the upper slider
170 from being separated. The lower sliding portion also includes a
lower slider 172, a lower slot 122, and guide portions 141 and
142.
[0104] If the front surface of the flexible portable terminal 100
is exposed as shown in FIG. 12B and the folding portion 160 is
expanded at an angle of 180 degrees so that the flexible display
unit 300 is exposed, the folding portion 160 has a section in which
it is expanded as shown in FIG. 12A.
[0105] The slider 130 of the upper sliding portion slides to the
intermediate portion of the slot 120, and also the upper portion of
the flexible display unit 300 adhered to the surface of the slider
130 slides simultaneously when the slider 130 slides as described
above so that the upper portion of the flexible display unit 300
can be expanded without any separation from the body 110 of the
flexible portable terminal 100 or any damage.
[0106] Similarly, the slider 140 of the lower sliding portion
slides to the intermediate portion of the slot 122, and also the
lower portion of the flexible display unit 300 adhered to the
surface of the slider 140 slides simultaneously when the slider 140
slides as described above so that the lower portion of the flexible
display unit 300 can be expanded without any separation from the
body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 or any damage.
[0107] Referring to FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C, it may be assumed that
the sliders 130 and 140 slide to an outermost portion of the slots
120 and 122 in the state that the designer folds the folding
portion 160 in a direction to the front surface of the flexible
portable terminal. The upper sliding portion may include an upper
slider 170, an upper slot 120 for defining a sliding range of the
upper slider 170, and guide portions 131 and 132 for preventing the
upper slider 170 from being separated.
[0108] In the case that the front surface of the flexible portable
terminal 100 is folded inwardly, the folding portion 160 has a
section as shown in FIG. 13A. For example, the folding portion 160
is compressed at a folded inside thereof but tensioned at a folded
outside thereof because of a high elongation due to the uneven
structure on the front and rear surfaces, while the flexible
display unit 300 is not compressed or tensioned at the folded
inside and folded outside thereof because of a low elongation.
Accordingly, an edge of the upper portion and an edge of the lower
portion are elongated outwardly by the folding of the folding
portion 160.
[0109] At this time, the slider 130 of the upper sliding portion
slides to the outermost portion of the slot 120, and also the upper
portion of the flexible display unit 300 adhered to the surface of
the slider 130 slides to the outermost portion simultaneously when
the slider 130 slides as described above so that the upper portion
of the flexible display unit 300 can be expanded without any
separation from the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100
or any damage.
[0110] Similarly, the slider 140 of the lower sliding portion
slides to the outermost portion of the slot 122, and also the lower
portion of the flexible display unit 300 adhered to the surface of
the slider 140 slides to an outside direction simultaneously when
the slider 140 slides as described above so that the lower portion
of the flexible display unit 300 can be expanded without any
separation from the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100
or any damage.
[0111] Further, since the flexible display unit 300 has an edge
portion thereof covered with the notch 222 (see FIG. 6B) formed on
the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 to be opposite
to the edge portion of the flexible display unit 300, it is
possible to prevent the internal parts of the body 110 of the
flexible portable terminal 100 from being exposed by the sliding
movement of the flexible display unit 300 or to prevent the
flexible display unit 300 from getting loose although the flexible
display unit 300 slides as the flexible portable terminal 100 is
bent or folded.
[0112] Here, a surface of the notch 222 which contacts the flexible
display unit 300 is made from a material, such as Chamude, Suede,
micro fiber, and the like, which protects a surface of the flexible
display unit 300.
[0113] Referring to FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C, it may be assumed that
the sliders 130 and 140 slide to an outermost portion of the slots
120 and 122 in the state that the designer folds the folding
portion 160 in a direction to the rear surface of the flexible
portable terminal. The upper sliding portion may include an upper
slider 170, an upper slot 120 for defining a sliding range of the
upper slider 170, and guide portions 131 and 132 for preventing the
upper slider 170 from being separated.
[0114] In the case that the rear surface of the flexible portable
terminal 100 is folded inwardly and the front surface of the
flexible portable terminal 100 is folded outwardly, the folding
portion 160 has a section as shown in FIG. 14A. For example, the
folding portion 160 is compressed at the folded inside thereof and
tensioned at the folded outside thereof because of the high
elongation due to the uneven structure of the front and rear
surfaces thereof On the other hand, the flexible display unit 300
is not compressed or tensioned at the folded inside and folded
outside thereof because of the low elongation, and the edges of the
upper and lower portions of the flexible display unit 300 are
pulled inwardly due to the thickness of the body 110 of the
flexible portable terminal 100 when the flexible display unit 300
is folded.
[0115] At this time, the slider 130 of the upper sliding portion
slides to the outermost portion of the slot 120, and also the upper
portion of the flexible display unit 300 adhered to the surface of
the slider 130 slides inwardly simultaneously when the slider 130
slides as described above, so that the upper portion of the
flexible display unit 300 can be pulled inwardly without any
separation from the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100
or any damage.
[0116] Similarly, the slider 140 of the lower sliding portion, not
shown in the drawings, slides to the outermost portion of the slot
122, and also the lower portion of the flexible display unit 300
adhered to the surface of the slider 140 slides inwardly
simultaneously when the slider 140 slides as described above, so
that the lower portion of the flexible display unit 300 can be
pulled inwardly without any separation from the body 110 of the
flexible portable terminal 100 or any damage.
[0117] FIG. 15 illustrates a structure of a cover of a general
portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a structure of a cover of a
flexible portable terminal according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0118] Referring to FIGS. 15, 16, and 17, a cover 200 of the
flexible portable terminal 100 wrinkles or becomes open when the
cover 200 surrounds three surfaces of the flexible portable
terminal 100 except for the flexible display unit 300 for the one
body type of the flexible portable terminal 100.
[0119] For example, a technology of manufacturing the edge of the
cover 200 of the flexible portable terminal 100 which generally has
a section as shown in FIG. 15, so that the edge of the cover 200
has a shape as shown in FIG. 16 is proposed.
[0120] More particularly, the edge of the cover 200 of the flexible
portable terminal 100 is cut off (C.cut) at an end thereof
contacting the flexible display unit 300. At this time, an
oblique-line extends from the end of the cover 200 of the flexible
portable terminal 100 to a line corresponding to a height of the
folding portion 160. For example, an end of the cut-off portion,
i.e., the oblique line, may be placed on the same plane as a
surface of the folding portion 160. The edge region of the front
surface of the cover 200 of the flexible portable terminal 100 may
be referred to as a first cut-off portion.
[0121] Similarly, a cut-off portion (C.cut) may be formed from a
surface of the cover 200 of the flexible portable terminal 100,
which is opposite to the cover 200 of the flexible portable
terminal 100 having the first cut-off portion formed thereon, to an
edge of the cover 200 of the flexible portable terminal. At this
time, the oblique-line extends from the surface of the cover 200 of
the flexible portable terminal 100 to a line corresponding to a
height of the folding portion 160. The edge region of the rear
surface of the cover 200 of the flexible portable terminal 100 may
be referred to as a second cut-off portion.
[0122] The first cut-off portion and the second cut-off portion are
formed such that the edges of the cover 200 of the flexible
portable terminal 100 are opposite to each other. The inclined
angles of the first and second cut-off portions may be different
from each other since the folding portion 160 and the cover 200 of
the flexible portable terminal 100 have different thicknesses
respectively.
[0123] An embodiment of the present disclosure has a characteristic
in that the edge portion of the cover 200 of the flexible portable
terminal 100, which is made of a soft material and is adjacent to
the folding portion 160 made of a hard material is cut off.
[0124] Accordingly, although the flexible portable terminal 100 is
folded in the direction to the front surface or the rear surface
thereof, it is possible that the first cut-off portion formed at
the edge of the cover 200 of the flexible portable terminal 100
prevents the folded portion of the cover 200 of the flexible
portable terminal 100 from wrinkling, being deformed, becoming
open, and the like, due to the difference of the elongation between
the hard material and the soft material.
[0125] FIG. 18 is a sectional view illustrating a process of
manufacturing a flexible portable terminal according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0126] Referring to FIG. 18, the body 110 of the flexible portable
terminal 100 including the folding portion 160, and the cover 200
of the flexible portable terminal 100 may be formed by a double
injection molding. After the body 110 of the flexible portable
terminal 100 is firstly molded as an internal structure, a surface
of the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 is
exposed.
[0127] Here, the body 110 of the flexible portable terminal 100 may
be formed of the hard material, such as at least one of non-metal
materials including Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Stylene (ABS) blend,
Polycarbonate (PC), Polyoxymethylene (POM) acetal resin, and the
like, which are plastic resin composition.
[0128] An cover molding is secondly performed around the body 110
of the flexible portable terminal 100, and the cover 200 of the
flexible portable terminal 100 is molded on the body 110 of the
exposed flexible portable terminal 100 and the over molded portion.
While the cover molding, the periphery of the body 110 of the
flexible portable terminal 100 is molded to be inclined so that the
second cut off portion is formed at the edge of the cover 200 of
the flexible portable terminal 100.
[0129] Here, the cover 200 of the flexible portable terminal 100
may be formed of a soft material, such as at least one of rubber,
urethane, silicon, leather, TPE, TPU, and the like, or at least one
combination thereof
[0130] Thus, the double injection molding can be achieved by a
different kind of materials.
[0131] Thereafter, the edge of the cover 200 of the flexible
portable terminal 100 may be partially etched in order to form the
first cut off portion.
[0132] The flexible portable terminal of the present disclosure is
capable of bending at different angles.
[0133] More particularly, when the flexible portable terminal is
bent, an end of the flexible display device is enabled to slide
according to a compression and a tension of the flexible display
unit caused by a difference of elongation between a bending portion
of a body of the portable terminal and the flexible display unit,
thereby preventing the flexible display unit from being separated
from the body of the portable terminal or being damaged.
[0134] Further, the present disclosure maintains a bending state by
variously adjusting a ratio of an upper portion to a lower portion
of the flexible portable terminal, thereby cradling the flexible
portable terminal at various angles, and facilitating operation and
convenient carrying of the flexible portable terminal.
[0135] In addition, in the structure of maintaining the folding
state of the flexible portable terminal according to the present
disclosure, magnetism is removed from the flexible portable
terminal, thereby having no electric and physical effects on
functioning and operating of the flexible portable terminal, and
improving reliability of the flexible portable terminal.
[0136] On the other hand, the various embodiments of the present
disclosure disclosed in the description and the drawings are merely
examples to easily describe technical contents of the present
disclosure and to help understand the present disclosure, and do
not limit the scope of the present disclosure. For example, it is
obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure
belongs that different modifications can be achieved based on the
technical spirit of the present disclosure.
[0137] While the present disclosure has been shown and described
with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *